October 17, 2018

90th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Paris Pick-Pocket Duo Decides Against The Challenge!

Europe ›   France ›   Paris ›  

Editor's Note:  We design our pockets to deter pick-pockets well before they ever think about an attempt. A pick-pocket is looking for an easy target, and in our pants, with your valuables stored behind multiple levels of security, you are anything but... The front zippers will tell them to go find another mark with pockets they are accustomed to dealing with. This testimonial is the first deterred pick-pocket we have published as it was witnessed. Most pick-pocket attempts go unreported and unless you catch them red-handed there is "no one to hear the tree fall in the forest." This is the 14th stopped pick-pocket in Paris.

Dear Clothing Arts,

We just got back from trip to Russia and France for which I bought your pick-pocket proof pants. My wife noted two guys standing behind me in a ticket line in Paris looking at my pants. They left the line, apparently concluding that the pants were difficult targets.

- Roger from New York, USA

May 22, 2018

76th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Paris Metro Team Thwarted Again!

Europe ›   France ›   Paris ›  

Editor's Note: This is our 13th stopped pick-pocket in Paris... that we know about!

Dear Clothing Arts,

I am a great fan of your clothing. My first pants (the old cotton Business Travelers) from you were purchased in March of 2013. In June of that year they thwarted a group of 3 pick-pockets while ascending the stairs from the Paris Metro.

Sorry, but I never let you know. Since then I purchased and wear an additional 3 pairs of shorts, 2 cargo pants, 1 brown business pants and 1 jacket. I like them all.

- Richard from Pennsylvania, USA

October 03, 2017

58th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Paris Metro Thief Thwarted

Europe ›   France ›   Paris ›  

Photo of the U.S. Army's 28th Infantry Division Marching Through the Arc De Triomphe - 1944

Dear Clothing Arts,

I was in Paris a couple of weeks ago for 10 days. The evening that we went to the Arc of Triumph the sidewalks were very crowded. I simply wanted to see were my dad drove the tank through the Arc with General George Patton when Paris was liberated in 1944. It was an electrifying experience to be there. Walking back to the metro it happened. A group of guys, commotion, and the attempt at my wallet. All happened in just seconds. Of course I still had my wallet and everything else in my pockets thanks to my Clothing Arts pants. Thank you!

- Gary from New Jersey, USA

August 29, 2017

53rd Stopped Pick-Pocket: One Night on the Champs-Élysées

Europe ›   France ›   Paris ›  

Editor's Note: This testimonial is a special one. We received an email a few weeks ago from Eugene, a traveler who said, "I've been meaning to write this story down for years, but I've been very busy!!" The story that follows is an in-depth recording of Eugene's experience of being wrapped up in a local Parisian football rally. Luckily for him, he was wearing our pants. Luckily for us, he an amateur photographer and captured some amazing shots from the scene that we now get to share with you all. This is also our 11th stop in Paris! Here's what he said:

Dear Clothing Arts, 

On May 13, 2013, I walked over to the Champs-Élysées to take some pictures and hopefully practice my French. I was living in Paris at the time and my French teacher told me that the sun would set through the middle of the Arc de Triomphe that night. She knew I was an amateur photographer and gave me some homework. She told me to go and photograph the sunset on the Champs-Élysées and, at the same time, try practicing my French.

I positioned myself in a good spot in the middle of the Champs-Élysées just behind a traffic light pole. Within a few minutes, other photographers gathered around me to photograph this twice-a-year phenomenon. But something was not quite right. Cars began to wildly honk their horns and soon a roar of people could be heard. There were groups of marchers shouting and waving flags. Some began to light flares and the sound of police sirens and shattering glass could be heard. Trying to practice my French, I understood that an official celebration for the local soccer team, Paris Saint-Germain, has just been broken up by police at the Trocadero plaza after having devolved into violent hooliganism. Paris Saint-Germain had just won its first French league title in 19 years. Their team included soccer superstars David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimović. I later learned that over 800 officers were called out and 30 people were injured along with 21 arrested.

Forced out of Trocadero, part of this raucous crowd turned up on the Champs-Élysées. Many were upset at not having had the chance to see and applaud their team when the celebration was abruptly canceled due to security concerns. I was soon in the middle of this crowd without really comprehending what was going on. Some were clearly ecstatic and celebratory, while others were clearly angry and upset. Police were unable to control the team’s fans. Cars and motorcycles were soon going in both directions on both sides of the street while groups of marchers disrupted traffic. A police van drove by with a hand extended from an open window dispensing pepper spray. The crowd surged toward my position. I made sure my camera’s wrist strap was snug in case someone tried to grab it from me. The crowd pressed all around us. It was impossible to move. I felt someone trying to grab my wallet, but I knew they would fail, my wallet was safely zipped and buttoned inside my Pick-Pocket Proof Pants. The photographer next to me had his watch stolen right off his wrist as he protected his expensive camera. In the end, I got some good photos and, thanks to my Pick-Pocket Proof Pants, would-be thieves were thwarted.

-Eugene from Virginia, USA

August 21, 2017

52nd Stopped Pick-Pocket: Pick-Pocket Proof Shirt Saves Paris Vacation!

Europe ›   France ›   Paris ›  

Dear Clothing Arts, 

One more story about pickpockets being thwarted. We just returned from Paris last night, where we were accosted a few days earlier on the street by a small group of young women holding petition sign-up sheets on clipboards. We were emphatic about not being interested, but one of the women got right up to my chest and shoved the clipboard against me. I immediately felt her fingers in my right shirt pocket, underneath the clipboard, caught the fingers, and pulled them out. My credit card was safe in the zippered part of the pocket. I bought the pants and two of the shirts, and wore them the whole time we traveled -- and this event made me very glad I had the extra security I had always wished I had but didn't really know how to accomplish. Now I know! Thanks to Clothing Arts, and now I'm a confirmed user.

- Raymond from California, USA

July 26, 2017

51st Stopped Pick-Pocket: Paris Marathon Marauder Stopped On Metro!

Europe ›   France ›   Paris ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

In March of this year (2017), we spent two weeks in France. Since I was concerned over the pick-pocket warnings, I bought two pairs of your pants; one pair of the adventure and one of the business. While in Paris, we were with a group of about twenty. It was the day of the Paris Marathon and the Metro was packed. We were packed in like sardines. I was hanging on to one of the poles and my wife was hanging on to my arm. I felt a tug at my left front pocket. I immediately asked my wife if her other hand was hanging on to my belt. She said ‘No’ and I said loudly, ‘Someone just tried to pick my pocket!’ I reached down and found the button undone, but the zipper was intact. There was a man standing directly behind me and he was jammed up against me. He tried looking away. Me and my wife just stared at him until we got off at the next stop. There were also two young French girls clutching their purses to their chests. They also started staring at him. I had been warned by my local guide that the #1 line was the most popular Metro for thieves. I was saved but, unfortunately, one of the other men in our group lost his wallet to a pick-pocket at Charles de Gaul Airport. Two other ladies were also pick-pocketed. They got one lady’s wallet and another lady in our group had her whole purse snatched. I am so fortunate that your pants saved me the time and aggravation of being a victim. I am so impressed that I plan on ordering a couple of more pairs and some for my wife, as well. Then she won't have to carry a purse.

- Fred, Texas, USA

June 02, 2017

48th Stopped Pick-Pocket: ANOTHER Pick-Pocket Prevented On Paris Metro

Europe ›   France ›   Paris ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

I have had my pockets picked twice in Europe, once in the Netherlands and once in Paris. I was looking for a pair of pick-pocket-proof pants for my 2017 trip to Paris and purchased a pair of Clothing Arts pants for the trip. On April 18th in the Paris Metro, a person attempted to pick my pockets. My wife watched him and he saw her watching and he still proceeded. We got off of the Metro at the next stop, not ours, and as I was leaving the car I felt a tug on my pants, reached down, pulled the arm, and bent the fingers I found as far back as I could. What I should have done is pulled the arm attached to the fingers such that they would get caught in the door. Doors on French Metro cars do not open as elevator doors in the U.S. Once starting to close they do not reopen for an arm. Needless to say, the pants stopped the pick-pocket although the button on the strap was open. So he got that far. I understand this incident is #48 overall and #8 in Paris. I highly commend ClothingArts for designing a tremendous product that is pick pocket proof as well as being extremely well made and comfortable. I highly recommend the product to anyone who travels.

- Gil, Pennsylvania, USA

April 24, 2017

47th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Palace Pick-Pocket Prevented at Versailles!

Europe ›   France ›   Paris ›  

Editor's Note: We were first made aware of our 47th stopped pick-pocket through a 5 star review on our Pick-Pocket Proof ® Adventure Travel Pants! Art, a traveler from Virginia, described being "felt up" while visiting the Palace at Versailles. We followed up with him for more detail on his experience. Here's what Art had to say:

Dear Clothing Arts,

I absolutely believe I was being groped by a pick pocket or two! I felt my wallet and cash were secure since I had them in my front pocket and then in the pocket with a Velcro cover, pocket zippered up and it was buttoned! The zipper on one of my pockets was moved down somewhat near the clasped button. My wife was near me and immediately asked if our items were secure since she saw a few fellows close to me. Paris is a fantastic city but I believe they have some of the most professional pick pockets in the world.

Your customer service is OUTSTANDING!  I had placed my order in early February purposely for the March Paris trip. Customer service called me and told me my order was delayed due NIS issues.  I mentioned I ordered them for the Paris trip.  They said they would annotate my order but couldn't promise me if I would received the order on time.  The week we were going to leave they called me and said they could get my order but not in the color I wanted.  I readily accepted it and I received the pants a day or two before the trip.  If I wasn't wearing those pants, I believe I could have been a victim of a pick pocket. 

- Art, Virginia, USA

April 24, 2017

45th & 46th Stopped Pick-Pockets: One In Paris & One In Rome

Europe ›   France ›   italy ›   Paris ›   Rome ›  

Editor's Note: We get our testimonials in many ways and for our 45th and 46th stopped pick-pockets we had a long-time traveler write in on our Facebook page. Although we don't have too many details surrounding these stops we do know that one happened in Paris (2013) and one in Rome (2015). These stops bring our city totals to 6 in Paris and 17 in Rome! We wrote to our traveler and asked for more information on the stop, here's what he said:

Dear Clothing Arts,

3 shorts, 1 pair of convertible pants, & 1 shirt. They have served me well over the years. I'm was 65 in Paris and am 69 now. Both times it was my wallet pocket that got hit.

- Malcolm, Arizona, USA

November 30, 2016

34th, 35th, 36th, & 37th Twarted Pick-Pockets...WOW! (Paris Metro & Dakar, Senegal)

Africa ›   Dakar ›   Europe ›   France ›   Paris ›   Senegal ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

I think I have set the record for thwarting pickpockets while wearing Clothing Arts pants and shirts.

Twice in the Paris Metro, the World Olympics of pick-pocketing, I have been accosted by pickpockets. On both occasions, to their befuddlement. they came up with nothing.

In Dakar, Senegal, an otherwise extremely safe city, pickpockets who exist there in large numbers, tried to pickpocket me. Both times, they failed to abscond with anything. In short, my investment in your products have already have paid for themselves many times over.

- Rick from New Jersey, USA